The Hebrew alphabet consists entirely of consonants, though some can function as vowels. Vowels are indicated with a system of dots and dashes next to the letters, but these are normally omitted except in Bibles and children's books. It is common for words, especially foreign words, to be spelled in more than one way; the ''Abu-l`afia'' Synagogue has five different spellings of its name on its signs.

+

The Hebrew alphabet consists entirely of consonants, though some can function as vowels. Vowels are indicated with a system of dots and dashes next to the letters, but these are normally omitted except in Bibles and children's books. It is common for words, especially foreign words, to be spelled in more than one way; the ''Abu-l`afia''&nbsp; Synagogue has five different spellings of its name on its signs.

−

The accent is usually on the last syllable; most of the exceptions are segolates (words in which ''segol'', the e-sound, was inserted after the accent), such as ''elef'' "thousand". Some words have a diphthong "ua" or "ia" which is one syllable but sounds like two, like English "oil". This is called ''patta<u>h</u> g-nuva'' "stolen a-sound" and occurs in שבוע ''shavua[`]'' "week", which is accented on the ''-u-.''

+

The stress is usually on the last syllable; most of the exceptions are segol-ates (words in which ''segol'', the /e/-sound), such as ''elef'' "thousand". Some words have a diphthong "ua" or "ia" which is one syllable but sounds like two, like English "oil". This is called ''pata<u>h</u> gnuva'' "stolen /a/-sound" and occurs in שבוע ''shavua[`]''&nbsp; "week", which is stressed on the ''-u-.''

−

In conversational Hebrew, only three (בכפ) are pronounced differently when they contain a ''daghesh''.

+

In conversational Hebrew, only three (בכפ) are pronounced differently when they contain a dot in the center called a ''dagesh''.

−

Five letters (מנצפכ) have a different form at the end of a word (םןץףך, respectively). These are named by adding סופית (''so-FEET'') "final" to the name of the letter, e.g. נון סופית (''noon so-feet'')

+

Five letters (מנצפכ) have a different form at the end of a word (םןץףך, respectively). These are named by adding סופית (''sofit - so-FEET'') "final" to the name of the letter, e.g. נון סופית (''nun sofit - noon so-feet'')

−

The letter ''shin'' is pronounced differently according to the position of the dot over it.

+

; <big> א </big>&nbsp; alef (<big>'</big>, a): glottal-stop {{IPA|/ʔ/}} or silent (sometimes used as the letter '''a''' when rendering English in Hebrew)

+

; <big> ב בּ </big>&nbsp; bet, vet (b, v): with a dot like '''''b'''ig''; without a dot like ''mo'''v'''e''

+

; <big> ג </big>&nbsp; gimel (g) : like '''''g'''o''

+

; <big> ד </big>&nbsp; dalet (d) : like '''''d'''ark''

+

; <big> ה </big>&nbsp; he (h) : like '''''h'''e'' or silent at the end of a word with a preceding ''-a'' or ''-e''

+

; <big> ו </big>&nbsp; vav (v, o, u) : like '''''v'''iolin''; some dialects pronounce as '''''w'''eek''; also '''''o'''r'' or ''m'''oo'''n'' when used as a vowel

+

; <big> ז </big>&nbsp; zayin (z) : like '''''z'''oo''

+

; <big> ח </big>&nbsp; <u>h</u>et (<u>h</u>) : Normally as Scottish '''ch''' in ''lo'''ch''''' and as German ''Ba'''ch''''' {{IPA|/χ/}}. Some people pronounce it as the Arabic '''ح''' {{IPA|/ħ/}}

+

; <big> ט </big>&nbsp; tet (t) : as '''t''' in ''s'''t'''ick''

+

; <big> י </big>&nbsp; yud (y, e, i) : like '''''y'''et''; also ''s'''ay''''' or ''hon'''ey''''' when used as a vowel

+

; <big> כ כּ ך </big>&nbsp; kaf, khaf (k, kh) : with a dot like ''s'''k'''ip''; without a dot like the Scottish '''ch''' in ''lo'''ch''''' and as German ''Ba'''ch''''' {{IPA|/χ/}}

; <big> ע &nbsp; `</big>ayin (<big>`</big>) : similar to Cockney pronunciation of ''wa'''t'''er'' {{IPA|/ʔ/}} and sometimes silent. Some people pronounce it as a constriction of the throat as in the Arabic '''ع''' {{IPA|/ʕ/}}

; <big> ע </big> `ayin : similar to Cockney pronunciation of ''wa'''t'''er'' {{IPA|/ʔ/}} and sometimes silent. Some people pronounce it as a constriction of the throat as in the Arabic '''ع''' {{IPA|/ʕ/}}

For holidays and events, Israeli Jews and Jews worldwide use a lunisolar calendar, in which the month begins at the new moon and a thirteenth month is added every few years. The months with Tishrei (Sept.-Oct.) and run through Elul (August-September); thus Elul 5760 is followed by Tishrei 5761. Besides meaning "spring" and "Nisan", "Aviv" is also the name of a stage that the growth of barley reaches at that time.

+

For holidays and events, Israeli Jews and Jews worldwide use a lunisolar calendar, in which the month begins at the new moon and a thirteenth month is added every few years. The months start with Tishrei (Sept.-Oct.) and run through Elul (August-September); thus Elul 5760 is followed by Tishrei 5761. "Aviv," the word for "spring," is sometimes substituted for "Nisan" and is also the name of a stage that the growth of barley reaches at that time.

Revision as of 03:27, 6 November 2011

Modern Hebrew is spoken as a daily language in Israel and in parts of the Palestinian Territories. Biblical Hebrew is used as a religious language by Jews worldwide. It is written with a different alphabet than European languages, and is written from right to left.

Pronunciation guide

The Hebrew alphabet consists entirely of consonants, though some can function as vowels. Vowels are indicated with a system of dots and dashes next to the letters, but these are normally omitted except in Bibles and children's books. It is common for words, especially foreign words, to be spelled in more than one way; the Abu-l`afia Synagogue has five different spellings of its name on its signs.

The stress is usually on the last syllable; most of the exceptions are segol-ates (words in which segol, the /e/-sound), such as elef "thousand". Some words have a diphthong "ua" or "ia" which is one syllable but sounds like two, like English "oil". This is called patah gnuva "stolen /a/-sound" and occurs in שבוע shavua[`] "week", which is stressed on the -u-.

In conversational Hebrew, only three (בכפ) are pronounced differently when they contain a dot in the center called a dagesh.

Five letters (מנצפכ) have a different form at the end of a word (םןץףך, respectively). These are named by adding סופית (sofit - so-FEET) "final" to the name of the letter, e.g. נון סופית (nun sofit - noon so-feet)

א alef (', a)

glottal-stop (IPA:/ʔ/) or silent (sometimes used as the letter a when rendering English in Hebrew)

ב בּ bet, vet (b, v)

with a dot like big; without a dot like move

ג gimel (g)

like go

ד dalet (d)

like dark

ה he (h)

like he or silent at the end of a word with a preceding -a or -e

ו vav (v, o, u)

like violin; some dialects pronounce as week; also or or moon when used as a vowel

ז zayin (z)

like zoo

ח het (h)

Normally as Scottish ch in loch and as German Bach (IPA:/χ/). Some people pronounce it as the Arabic ح (IPA:/ħ/)

ט tet (t)

as t in stick

י yud (y, e, i)

like yet; also say or honey when used as a vowel

כ כּ ך kaf, khaf (k, kh)

with a dot like skip; without a dot like the Scottish ch in loch and as German Bach (IPA:/χ/)

ל lamed (l)

like leave, pronounced more forward in the mouth.

מ ם mem (m)

like mother

נ ן nun (n)

like never

ס samekh (s)

like some

ע `ayin (`)

similar to Cockney pronunciation of water (IPA:/ʔ/) and sometimes silent. Some people pronounce it as a constriction of the throat as in the Arabic ع (IPA:/ʕ/)

פ פּ ף peh, feh (p, f)

with a dot like spoon; without a dot off

צ ץ tsadi (ts)

as boots

ק qof (q)

As in skip

ר resh (r)

pronounced as the French r (IPA:[ʁ]). Some pronounce it rolled as in Spanish burro (IPA:[r])

שׁ שׂ sin, shin (sh, s)

with a right-hand dot like shoot (IPA:[ʃ]), or with a left-hand dot like see

ת tav (t)

as t in stick

Adding an apostrophe (geresh) to some letters may change their sounds.

For holidays and events, Israeli Jews and Jews worldwide use a lunisolar calendar, in which the month begins at the new moon and a thirteenth month is added every few years. The months start with Tishrei (Sept.-Oct.) and run through Elul (August-September); thus Elul 5760 is followed by Tishrei 5761. "Aviv," the word for "spring," is sometimes substituted for "Nisan" and is also the name of a stage that the growth of barley reaches at that time.

Eating

In Israel, many restaurants and eating places are kosher meaning that they observe the Jewish dietary laws of kashrut. For a restaurant to be officially kosher and have a Kosher Certificate, in addition to serving only correctly prepared kosher food, it must also not open on the Shabbat - from sundown on Friday through sundown on Saturday.

In many places in Israel such as Tel Aviv, there are non-kosher restaurants that will open on Shabbat and will serve non-kosher food (e.g. the restaurant serves both meat and milk dishes). Comparatively few places serve non-kosher food items like pork.

In some religious villages and small towns there are very few if any places that open on Shabbat.